Partnership Formed to help find the Cause and Cure of Type 1 Diabetes

Press Release

 The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) is pleased to announce it has renewed its partnership with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) to help find the cause and cure of Type 1 Diabetes.

The SJHL is pleased to announce the month of November has been designated  as "Diabetes Month".   During November each SJHL player will be wearing a JDRF sticker on their helmet.   "This is a great partnership to help youth of all ages as World Diabetes day is also held in the month of November,"  said Bill Chow, President SJHL.

"Many Saskatchewan residents are unaware of how far-reaching  Type 1 Diabetes really is," said Tyler Bozak, Honorary Ambassador for JDRF and player with the Toronto Maple Leafs.   "Not only does Diabetes directly impact over 85,000 Saskatchewan residents (1 in 14), it has a profound impact on their families and how they go about their daily lives. We are dedicated  to finding a cure for this disease, and we certainly  appreciate  the tremendous support of the Saskatchewan  Junior Hockey  League to help us reach our goal."

Type 1 Diabetes, the most severe form of diabetes, is a non-preventable autoimmune  disease. It can occur at any age but is most commonly  diagnosed  from infancy to the late 30s. Unlike type 2 diabetes, it cannot be prevented by diet, exercise or medication and living with the disease demands  constant blood testing and regulating. A child living with type 1 diabetes requires approximately 1,463 needles a year and 2,190 finger pokes a year to test their blood sugar - it imposes a very structured lifestyle on a family to adequately monitor the disease, and, avoid devastating  complications.

"Canadians living with Type 1 Diabetes are insulin-dependent for life with the constant threat of developing complications  such as blindness,  end-stage kidney disease, nerve damage, heat attack, stroke, amputation and even death. Insulin allows a person with diabetes to stay alive, but, it does not cure the disease, nor does it prevent its eventual complications.

 (Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)